One good thought leads to another...

Jerking the car door open, I jumped in quickly, but before slamming it shut, I heard Ian shout out, “I’m praying you have a really good day.” Yeah, right! I wasn’t in the mood to hear that. Standing in the doorway in his blue pajamas and with a hopeful smile on his face, my husband was waving like a man who really wanted his wife happy before she went to work. But I didn’t want to have a really good day at work. I wanted to have a really good day at home. 

I couldn’t help smiling at him, though, as I thought about how many times in the past 33 years he must have said those same words to me. And even more importantly, how many times he had prayed that same prayer for me. But his words were not what I wanted to hear this morning. I wanted to be irritated. I wanted to be cranky. And I wanted to stay home.  I’d been up since 4:00 AM, totally engrossed in a story I was writing, a story that was finally taking shape, and I was excited at this new endeavor into the world of fiction. The writing world of fiction anyway.

But griping’s grip began to lessen, replaced slowly by the memory of Ian’s grin, which I couldn’t get out of my mind. He had no idea how many times that grin or those words had helped me get through a trying day. And then, there’s his prayer. For me, no one prays like my husband. Straightforward. Direct. Exactly what’s on his mind. No beating around the bush. Usually asking for forgiveness before he asks for anything else. Usually with emotion right beneath the surface. His prayers are as felt by me as they are heard by God.

Then I saw it. One elegantly poised deer, motionless on the side of the road. Slowing down to savor the sight, I saw more - two, three, four, five…there were six. Standing aloof from each other, yet stronger together, before they gracefully galloped across the road and disappeared into the bush. A peaceful sight to still anyone’s turbulent thoughts. “Be still and know that I am God.” 

And I couldn’t help but be still. Then it happened as it does so often. Those six deer reminded me of the morning when several more deer dashed to the front of the school, gracefully pirouetting, before disappearing into that same bush, leaving me spellbound by a riveting performance that would have rivaled the Nutcracker.

And that thought made me think of all the deer at Red Deer Farm, a place where herds of deer transfixed all who drove by. Which made me think of the lady who had owned that farm and a Bible study lesson she had once taught at CBS three decades ago.  I don’t remember what the lesson was, but remembering her made me think of all the other women from those early years of Bible study and how much we loved each other. How I used to enjoy those Mondays and Tuesdays as we prayed and prepared together. How close I grew to God during those years.

And before I knew it, I was praising God. Thankful. Grateful. For my family. For my friends. For God. For his total involvement in my life.

Jumping out of my car after quickly parking in front of the school, I eagerly -- yes, eagerly -- walked into the building. A new day had begun. A day I’ll never have again. A day to rid myself of worthless thoughts and ponder worthy thoughts of God. A day God had already begun to make himself known.

“Turn my eyes away from worthless things. Give me a new life in your ways” (Psalm 119:37 Good News).